How should you prepare for the big test day? The counselors share some tips:

“The night before the test, you need to relax and get a good night’s sleep.”

Taking a test when you are tired is not the best idea, as it can affect your concentration and lower your score. Studies show that by shortening the amount of sleep you get by as little as one or two hours, your effectiveness and responsiveness may be reduced by 25%.

“Eat a well-balanced meal the morning of the test.”

Eating a good breakfast before taking a long exam can help you work more efficiently and improve your alertness and focus. Experts recommend consuming a meal before a test even if you do not normally eat breakfast. When deciding on something to eat, choose items like whole-grain cereals, oatmeal, toast, eggs and fruit rather than foods high in sugar content, as putting sugar in your system can result in sugar highs and lows.

“If you can, get your hands on a test strategy book or flashcards.”

There are many programs which prepare teens for big tests, but they can be expensive and are not always an option for some students. Test prep books and flashcards are a much cheaper alternative and are a way to practice skills for the SAT/PSAT/ACT tests. Many prep books include practice tests and information on testing strategies that can help you with answering difficult questions.

“Go to ‘My College Quickstart’ and activate your account to get personalized tutorials based on your previous PSAT scores.”

“My College Quickstart” is free to any student who takes the PSAT/NMSQT tests. It provides a lot of personalized information and advice about testing, college and careers, as well as a plethora of practice SAT questions. This tool also shows students their projected SAT score based on previous tests, which can be helpful to those who wish to improve.

“Build in some study time weekly or daily, several months before you are scheduled to test. Work it into your daily routine and you will feel more confident and ready to test.”

Set aside a little time in the months leading up to the test and spend it practicing skills and strategies. If you are familiar with the format of the test you will be taking, you will feel more comfortable and prepared when the big day rolls around.

“Sign up to have the ‘SAT Question of the Day’ emailed to your account.”

The “SAT Question of the Day” provides sample SAT questions for the writing, critical reading and math sections along with explanations of the correct answers. Answering the Question of the Day will expose you to the types of questions that will be asked on the test and allow you to see which sections you need to prepare the most for.

“Post vocabulary words on your bathroom mirror.”

Vocabulary words appear on a good portion of the test and by knowing some common SAT vocabulary words, you will be able to answer more questions in the reading and writing sections of the test.

“Don’t change your study habits the night before – you know what works for you best.”

Prepare in advance so you do not have to cram the night before; studies show that last minute studying is not as effective as reviewing the material over an extended period of time. Trying to prepare the night before will take a toll on the amount of sleep you get, and chances are, you will not remember most of what you studied the next morning.

“Don’t load up on caffeine – it can make you extra nervous.”

If you are the type of person who likes to make a morning Starbucks run, skip it the morning of the test. Consuming caffeine right before the test can make you nervous, disrupt your attention and lower your score.